Hula hoop

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a hula hoop, in which a main body is made of soft synthetic resin (semisolid) so that the inner circumferential surface of the main body can be readily turned over to the outside so as to be used for both of a hula hoop provided with the higher projections thereon and a hula hoop with the lower projections thereon, as desired, thereby providing an acupressure effect which cannot be easily be compared with that of the conventional hula hoop. That is, the original shape of the hula hoop of the present invention is maintained due to a certain degree of rigidities thereof, when it is not used. However, as the turning speed of the hula hoop is gradually becoming fast, the main body thereof is rotated along an elliptical orbit due to the flexibility and elasticity thereof, so that the turning radius of the hula hoop is increased to permit a larger number of projections coupled to the hula hoop to be in contact with the body of a user, as well as to permit the body to be more strongly oppressed, thereby causing an increase in an acupressure effect applied to the body.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hula hoop, and in more particular, toa hula hoop, in which a main body is made of soft syntheticresin(semisolid) having a pre-determined strength so that the innercircumferential surface of the main body can be readily turned over tothe outside so as to be used for both a hula hoop provided with thehigher projections thereon and a hula hoop provided with the lowerprojections thereon, as desired, thereby providing an acupressure effectwhich cannot be easily be compared with that of the conventional hulahoop.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, the typical hula hoop is made of synthetic resin andcomprises of a plurality of tubings which are strung together so as toform in a circular shape of the hula hoop. The typical hula hoop isadapted to be whirled around the waist of a user by twisting the hips ofthe user.

That is, when the user turns round the hula hoop at his or her waistportion, the hula hoop is kept turning round and round due to thecentrifugal force thereof. In this instance, the user have to keep twisther or his waist so as to maintain the turning of the hula hoop, therebynaturally achieving exercise effect for the waist and the legs and thelike.

However, since such hula hoop has an operation which makes the userexercise by a simple movement of the user, it cannot provide otherhealth enhancement effect such as acupressure effect.

Accordingly, a hula hoop, in which a plurality of projections areinstalled on the circumferential surface of the main body thereof so asto have an acupressure effect, has been developed recently, however, itcould fail to provide an excellent acupressure effect to the user due tothe simplification of acupressure function thereof.

In other words, since the conventional hula hoop having acupressureeffect is formed of synthetic resin having a certain degree of strength,it can assume a circular shape all the time, irrespective of whenrotated or not. As a result, the hula hoop is always rotated in anidentical orbit (a circular orbit), so that the waist portion of a user,which is closely contacted with the hula hoop, can be made constant,thereby causing a reduction in an acupressure effect thereto.

In addition, since the form of the hula hoop having approximately adiameter of 1 meter is always fixed in the shape of a circle, it ispossible to cause difficulties for the storage and carrying thereof.

Meanwhile, as for a plurality of projections, once they are coupled tothe hula hoop, they are fixed as they are, so that the number and theprotruded degree of the projections are always fixed, i.e. which cannotto be changed. Thereby, the number and the contact area of theprojections to be in contact with the body of the user are madeconstant, so that the acupressure force applied to the user s bodycannot be adjusted.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentionedproblems occurring in the conventional art, and it features that themain body thereof is made of soft synthetic resin(semisolid) having apredetermined strength, so that the inner circumferential surface of themain body can be readily turned over to the outside so as to be used forboth a hula hoop provided with the higher projections thereon and a hulahoop provided with the lower projections thereon, as desired, andfeatures that the unique coupling method of the projections is appliedthereto, thereby providing an acupressure effect which cannot be easilybe compared with that of the conventional hula hoop.

Technical Solution

As for the hula hoop according to the present invention, the originalshape thereof is maintained due to a certain degree of rigiditiesthereof, when it is not used. However, as the turning speed of the hulahoop is gradually becoming fast, the main body thereof is rotated alongan elliptical orbit due to the flexibility and elasticity thereof, sothat the turning radius of the hula hoop is increased to permit a largernumber of projections coupled to the hula hoop to be in contact with thebody of a user, as well as to permit the body to be more stronglyoppressed, thereby causing an increase in an acupressure effect appliedto the body.

The conventional hula hoop, for example as shown in FIG. 4, 10 ismaintained in the original shape thereof even when rotated. On the otherhand, the hula hoop of the present invention 1 is maintained in anelliptical shape thereof when rotated, thus resulting in obtaining anacupressure effect which cannot be easily be compared with that of theconventional hula hoop, as described above.

Further, the inner circumferential surface of the main body of the hulahoop in accordance with the present invention is turned over to theoutside due to the flexibility of the material thereof, so that theheight of the projections to be in contact with the body of the user andthe acupressure force can be adjusted. In other words, the innercircumferential surface of the main body is turned over to the outsideto be inverted into the outer circumferential surface thereof, so thatthe height of the projections, which are installed on the inner and theouter circumferential surfaces thereof, respectively, can be changedinto two types thereof, to thereby increase an acupressure effectapplied to the body.

In addition, the conventional hula hoop is fixed in the shape of acircle having approximately a diameter of 1 meter, however, since thehula hoop of the present invention can be collapsed (suitable to becollapsible in three folds) to reduce the diameter thereof by less than30 centimeter, so that it can be put into a bag having a certain size,to thereby ensure high convenience in its storage and carrying.

Further, the cross section of the main body has the shape similar to arhombus, and whose color is transparent so that the surface of the mainbody can generate reflected light therefrom during its rotation aroundthe wrist of the user, to thereby obtain an esthetic effect in itsappearance.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

The hula hoop of the present invention features that the main bodythereof is made of soft synthetic resin(semisolid) having apredetermined strength, so that the inner circumferential surface of themain body can be readily turned over to the outside so as to be used forboth of a hula hoop installed with the higher projections thereon and ahula hoop with the lower projections thereon, as desired, and featuresthat the unique coupling method of the projections is applied thereto,thereby allowing it to provide an acupressure effect which cannot beeasily be compared with that of the conventional hula hoop.

In other words, the original shape of the hula hoop of the presentinvention is maintained due to a certain degree of rigidities thereof,when it is not used. However, as the turning speed of the hula hoop isgradually becoming fast, the main body thereof is rotated along anelliptical orbit due to the flexibility and elasticity thereof, so thatthe turning radius of the hula hoop is increased to permit a largernumber of projections coupled to the hula hoop to be in contact with thebody of a user, as well as to permit the body to be more stronglyoppressed, thereby causing an increase in an acupressure effect appliedto the body.

Further, the inner circumferential surface of the main body of the hulahoop according to the present invention is turned over to the outsidedue to the flexibility of the material thereof, so that the height ofthe projections to be in contact with the body of the user and theacupressure force can be adjusted. In other words, the innercircumferential surface of the main body is turned over to the outsideto be inverted into the outer circumferential surface thereof, so thatthe height of the projections, which are installed on the inner and theouter circumferential surfaces thereof, respectively, can be changedinto two types thereof, to thereby increase an acupressure effectapplied to the body.

Meanwhile, a plurality of projections in accordance with the presentinvention are respectively coupled to the main body by an assemblingmethod, so that the number of the projections can be changed, asdesired. In this regard, it can be employed by fitting the projectionsinto all the holes formed on the main body thereof. But depending oncases, it is used by eliminating all the projections.

In addition, the form of the conventional hula hoop is fixed in theshape of a circle having approximately a diameter of 1 meter, however,since the hula hoop of the present invention can be collapsed severaltimes upon itself to reduce the diameter thereof by less than 30centimeter, so that it can be put into a bag having a certain size, tothereby ensure high convenience in its storage and carrying.

Further, the cross section of the main body has the shape similar to arhombus, and whose color is transparent so that the surface of the mainbody can generate reflected light therefrom during its rotation aroundthe wrist of the user, to thereby obtain an esthetic effect in itsappearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the hula hoop according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where the hula hoop of the FIG. 1is turned over to the outside;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state where the form of the hula hoop ofthe present invention is changed in an elliptic shape thereof;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state where the hula hoop of the presentinvention is used;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the hula hoop according to a first preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state where the hula hoop of the FIG. 5is turned over to the outside;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the hula hoop according to a second preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state where the hula hoop of the FIG. 7is turned over to the outside;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the hula hoop according to a third preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a part enlarged view of the hula hoop of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a part enlarged lateral view of the hula hoop of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is an exploded cross-sectional view showing a coupling state ofthe projections, which are components of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a projection ofthe components of the present invention is coupled to the main body ofthe hula hoop; and

FIG. 14 is an exploded lateral view showing a coupling state of theprojections, which are components of the present invention.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will beexplained in detail with reference to the appended drawings.

As shown in the FIGS. 5 through 9, the main body 2 of the hula hoop 1 ofthe present invention is provided with a plurality of holes 8 formedalong on the circular edge thereof, through which a plurality ofprojections 3 are coupled to the main body. In this instance, some ofthe plurality of projections 3 are constructed to be slightly protrudedinwardly from the inner circumferential surface of the main body 2(assumed to be a lower height thereof), and the others are constructedto be substantially protruded inwardly from the same (assumed to be ahigher height thereof). Also, the main body 2 of the hula hoop is madeof soft synthetic resin, so that the inner circumferential surface ofthe main body can be readily inverted into the outer circumferentialsurface thereof.

As for the projections 3 having such configuration described above, themain body 2 of the hula hoop is fit between the upper body 4 and thelower body 5 of the projections, and a bolt head portion 6 installed onthe top of the upper body is securely screwed to the main body by ascrew (7).

Further, the bolt head portion 6 is constructed to be readily screwed bymeans of a copper coin and the like, which allows the user to easilyassemble the hula hoop.

Hereinafter, the present invention having such structure described abovewill be explained in more detail.

The primary feature of the present invention resides in that the hulahoop is made of soft synthetic resin having a certain degree of strengthso as to have flexibility and elasticity thereof, so that the innercircumferential surface of the main body can be readily turned over tothe outside, which leads to maximize acupressure effect, and in thatunique coupling configuration of the projections thereof is applied tothe hula hoop, thereby providing various acupressure therapy. Suchfeatures described above are significantly different with those of theconventional hula hoop.

The main body 2 of the hula hoop 1 of the present invention is providedwith a plurality of holes 8 formed along on the circular edge thereof,through which a plurality of projections 3 are coupled to the main body.

The projections 3 comprise an upper body 4 and a lower body 5 thereof.Further, a bolt head portion 6 installed on the top of the upper body issecurely screwed to the main body of the hula hoop, after the main body2 is fit between the upper body 4 and the lower body 5 of theprojections.

That is, two female screw portions, one which is formed on the innerperiphery surface of the plurality of holes 8 provided on the main body2 of the hula hoop and the other formed on the inner periphery surfaceof the lower body 5 of the projections 3, respectively, so that theprojections 3 having a screw portion 7 (male screw) formed below thebolt head portion 6 is screwed to the female screw portions thereof, tothereby be easily fastened to the main body by an assembling method.

Meanwhile, the projections coupled to the main body is illustrated as 27or 28 pieces as shown in the drawings, however, it is not limited by thenumber thereof. Also, the number of the projections, which are coupledto the main body by an assembling method, may be adjusted, as desired.In this regard, the projections 3 can be fit into all the holes formedon the main body thereof for use, but depending on cases, they can beeliminated from all the holes for use.

Also, a separation distance between the projections and the height ofthe projections may be adjusted (shown in the FIG. 9), so that thenumber and the height of the projections can be adjusted, if necessary,and thus which allows the user to conveniently use the hula hoop of thepresent invention.

Further, the main body of the hula hoop is turned over to the outsidedue to the flexibility of the material thereof, so that the height ofthe projections to be in contact with the body of the user and theacupressure force can be adjusted.

In other words, the inner circumferential surface of the main body isturned over to the outside to be inverted into the outer circumferentialsurface thereof, so that the height of the projections, which areinstalled on the inner and the outer circumferential surfaces thereof,respectively, can be changed into two types thereof, to thereby increasean acupressure effect applied to the body.

For example as shown in FIG. 5, 9 pieces of the projections, which aredefined as one by one at every 3 pieces of the 27 pieces of theprojections, are constructed to be slightly protruded inwardly from theinner circumferential surface of the main body, and to be substantiallyprotruded to the outside thereof. On the contrary, in case where themain body of the FIG. 5 is turned over to the outside, it is possible toobtain the reverse acupressure effect, in which the 9 pieces of theprojections are constructed to be substantially protruded inwardly fromthe inner circumferential surface of the main body, and to be slightlyprotruded to the outside thereof, as shown in the FIG. 6. Accordingly,in case where various preferred embodiments in the construction methodfor the projections of the present invention are provided, variousacupressure effects can be obtained.

1. A hula hoop (1) in which a plurality of holes (8) are formed along onthe circular edge of the main body (2) thereof, through which aplurality of projections (3) are coupled to the main body (2), in whichsome of the plurality of projections (3) are constructed to be slightlyprotruded inwardly from the inner circumferential surface of the mainbody (2), and the others are constructed to be substantially protrudedinwardly from the inner circumferential surface of the main body (2),and in which the main body (2) is made of soft synthetic resin having acertain strength, so that the inner circumferential surface of the mainbody can be inverted into the outer circumferential surface thereof. 2.The hula hoop according to claim 1, wherein the projections (3) areconstructed such that the main body (2) of the hula hoop is fit betweenan upper body (4) and a lower body (5) of the projections, and then abolt head portion (6) installed on the top end of the upper body of theprojections is securely screwed to the main body by a screw (7).